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It isn't wise to blindly go into a Yoga retreat
without preparing yourself for the possible pitfalls. You wouldn't
want to put your time and resources into something that you would
regret later on.

By examining the following conditions about yourself, you can
determine whether a yoga retreat is really suitable for you or is it
something that you should stay away from.

This list includes some of the possible 'dangers' or pitfalls
that can be a part of your experience.

# 1 - Poor physical condition

This one is fairly obvious. While there are many
yoga retreats that do not have a high demand of physical fitness,
nevertheless, basic fitness levels are always a must. Do not go for
a yoga retreat if you are suffering from physical weakness or
illness.

# 2 - Tendency to be competitive or
testing your limit

A strict no no. If you have this tendency, it may
be better to avoid a yoga retreat altogether. It is not uncommon for
people with such attitudes to experience injury. A group setting has
the danger of making you uncontrollably comparative, in comparing
postures efficiency and capability. Yoga is NOT a competitive sport.
In fact, the best benefits of Yoga can be had by understanding
"your" body and not torturing it.

While this is
fairly well known, it is difficult to not fall into the trap of
comparison given our societal upbringings.

# 3 - A Non-adjusting temperament

A Yoga retreat will test you in many ways.
Whether it is in matters of gelling with the lead teacher or the
group, or then aspects of fooding or accommodation standards, you
may have pre-set notions that you should be willing to overcome.
Indeed, the best you can get out of a yoga retreat is to learn how
to adjust in any kind of environment. Many people go into a retreat
with an overtly 'romantic' expectation regarding the setting etc.
Remember, the lesser the expectation, the more you are likely to get
out of the retreat.

# 4 - Boredom Pangs

If you are highly extroverted in nature, you may
experience boredom at times. A Yoga retreat is about going within -
a kind of meditation - at knowing yourself better and how your mind
works in different situations. There may be times when you will be
just alone with nothing to do around - nothing to fill your time. If
you treat such periods as a waste of time, you may like to
re-consider your plans of going for a yoga holiday.

# 5 - Religious 'Baggage'

There have been controversies raised of yoga
being a practice that is predominantly Hindu and deviates from the
path of other religions. If you suffer from such doubts, a yoga
holiday is definitely not for you. The last thing you want is to be
mentally disturbed if you share such beliefs.

These are some of the points that you should
truly evaluate about yourself before making the decision of taking
off to that 'exotic'
yoga retreat in India or then, by the
Mediterranean.